The Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals will get the 2022 NFL season underway this afternoon at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The Chiefs are about as healthy as they could be heading into the Week 1 matchup with every player on their roster practicing in full leading up to the game. The Cardinals, however, are dealing with some injuries heading into this game. Three players were ruled out of the game outright, while four were listed as questionable heading into the game.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported overnight on two of the questionable players for Arizona, starting with three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, J.J. Watt.
Cardinals’ DE J.J. Watt, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a calf injury, is unlikely to play vs. the Chiefs, per source. Cardinals want to be safe and smart with 16 games ahead.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 11, 2022
While Watt is unlikely to suit up on Sunday with a calf injury, TE Zach Ertz has been trending in the right direction all week with his calf injury. Barring a pregame setback, Ertz should play some snaps against Kansas City in Week 1 per Schefter.
Cardinals’ TE Zach Ertz, who is listed as questionable for Sunday due to a calf injury, is likely to play vs. the Chiefs barring any pregame setbacks, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 11, 2022
Kliff Kingsbury did mention earlier in the week that they’d likely keep Ertz on a pitch count if he did play in Week 1.
There were still no updates on CB Byron Murphy Jr., who is questionable with an illness, or OL Justin Pugh, who is questionable with a neck injury. We’ll likely learn more about their expected status as we get closer to kickoff.
With the short week ahead for Kansas City, there was also some relevant injury news for the Week 2 “Thursday Night Football” game against the Los Angeles Chargers. CB J.C. Jackson will not play in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders and according to Schefter, Week 2 against the Chiefs could also be a stretch.
Chargers’ CB J.C. Jackson, listed as doubtful for Sunday due to ankle surgery, is not expected to play vs. the Raiders, per source. It also will be tough for Jackson to make it back for Thursday night’s game vs. the Chiefs on a short week.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 11, 2022
This is certainly something to monitor as the team will start their prep for Week 2 as soon as the game clock strikes zero today.
